NetBeans IDE GUI Features
Debugger Editor Window
The editor window of the Debugger corresponds to the editor window of the WinConsole, with the addition of color syntax highlighting. Because the Debugger is always connected to a BBj interpreter, each line is automatically checked for correct BBj statement syntax. Breakpoints can be added or removed to control the flow of program execution (as depicted here by the red ball in the gutter next to the red highlighted line), and the next line to be executed is indicated by the pointer icon in the gutter and blue highlighting. The Debugger editor window does not have many of the sophisticated text editing capabilities of the Source Editor, but is the tool of choice for testing application code and making minor editing changes.
Workspace Tabs
Tabs representing switchable areas that can be dedicated to specific kinds of operations or configured in whatever way the user desires. The Editing workspace could be used for working with files in the Source Editor, and the Debugging workspace could be dedicated for testing code in the Debugger. The names of workspace tabs are purely for user convenience; they do not dictate what can be performed in any particular workspace. Each workspace can have its own unique layout of components, and that layout will be saved and restored from one IDE session to the next. The workspace tabs can be used to instantly move between workspaces.
Program Level Tab
Represents a "called" program level. Level 0 is the main program, or the first program that is run in the BBj application. A new tabbed pane is automatically added for each "called" program, and the source of that program appears in the editing area below. Called programs do not receive their own file tab at the bottom of the Debugger window because they must remain associated with the calling program that preceded them.
Source Editor Window
The Source Editor Window is a text editor optimized for writing BBj source code. It provides color syntax highlighting and other sophisticated editing features. It is not connected with a BBj interpreter, and therefore does not perform BBj syntax checking or debugging. It is the tool of choice when writing new code or making extensive changes to existing source files.
Explorer
The Explorer Filesystems tab displays a hierarchical listing of all files in the mounted directories. Files are opened, executed or debugged by selecting them in the Explorer and clicking the right mouse button to open the popup menu with the list of available operations. To mount a new directory in the Explorer, select Mount Filesystem from the File menu and follow the steps in the Wizard.
Command Prompt
The command prompt functions like the command prompt in the SysConsole or TermConsole. Commands entered into the command prompt will be executed against the program currently loaded in the Debugger. More than one command at a time can be entered in this command line. For example, multiple lines can be copied from the History Tab window and pasted in.
Strip Output File Extension
This option removes the last file extension from the name of the compiled file, but only when the developer specifies an output directory and gives no extension. If the output directory was left blank, this option becomes non-applicable. See Strip Output File Extension for a summary of the rules applying to file naming behavior.
Options Window
Displays a hierarchical listing of user-configurable options that control the operation and appearance of the IDE. The Options window is opened by selecting the Options item from the Tools menu. To modify the settings of the BBj plug-in modules, open the Options window and expand the BBj Development | BBj Module Options tree.
File Tabs
Represents a file that is opened in the Debugger or Source Editor. When more that one file is opened, each file is assigned its own tab at the bottom of the window. The tab of the currently focused file is shown on top of all other tabs, and focus can be shifted rapidly from one file to another by clicking on the corresponding tab.
IDE Toolbar
IDE Toolbar – Consists of Cursor Selection, Image List, Form, Child Window, Menu Bar, Push Button, Custom Edit, Check Box, Group Box, Image Control, InputE, InputN, Static Text, List Box, List Button, List Edit, Radio Button, Scroll Bar, Status Bar, Tab Control, Edit Box, Tool Button, and Grid.
Status Bar
The first compartment displays the current location of the text caret by line number and column. The second compartment indicates the status of insert or overwrite mode in the editor. In this example, the caret is on line 13 column 11, and insert mode is active.
Menu Bar and Tool Bars
The IDE main menu bar and associated tool bars, containing actions for developing in Java and BBj, as well as any other language types that may be supported by plug-in NetBeans modules, such as HTML or XML.
Tree View
The tree view displays a graphical representation of the structure and contents of the resource file in a hierarchical tree. The tree view can be used to add forms, child windows, image lists, and menus and to define and delete individual resources.
Edit Area
The edit area occupies the right portion of the interface. It serves as a "work area" for creating and modifying forms, child windows, menus, image lists, and their associated controls and elements.
Editor Margin
The Editor Margin is used to indicate information about the program in the editor.
BBxPROGRESSION/4 Compiler Location
Path and filename of the bbx4cpl compiler. If BBxPROGRESSION/4 is not installed, no bbx4cpl will be available and it will not be possible to create PROGRESSION/4 tokenized files.
BBx PRO/5 Compiler Location
Path and filename of the pro5cpl compiler. Note: If PRO/5 is not installed, then the pro5cpl utility will not be available, and the user cannot create PRO/5 tokenized files.
Scroll Bar
Places a scroll bar control on the selected form or child window. Select Vertical or Horizontal from the Property Sheet.
Open
Opens an existing .brc, .brf, or .arc file.
Tab Order
Displays the Tab Order dialog to modify the tab order or resources contained within a form or child window.
Print Preview
Displays the standard Windows Print Preview to view the contents of a file before printing.
Set Same Size
Adjusts two or more items to the same size. The first item selected will be the size of all the items adjusted.
Cursor Selection
Specifies the cursor that is used to place or size controls in the edit area.
Layout
Contains the Align, Distribute, Set Same Size, Grid, Snap On, Snap Size On, Group Controls, and Ungroup Controls options.
Window
Contains the Cascade, Arrange, Tile Horizontally, Tile Vertically, Close All Documents, and Hide Property Sheet options.
Close All Documents
Closes all forms and child windows without modifying them. To reopen each form or child window, click its icon in the tree view.
Start Form Demo
Previews a demonstration of a current form without running it through the interpreter.
Align
Aligns two or more controls along the left, right, top, or bottom boundary of the last control selected.
Custom Edit
Places a custom edit control on the selected form or child window.
Distribute
Evenly distributes the vertical or horizontal spacing between three or more selected controls.
List Button
Places a list button control on the selected form or child window.
Push Button
Places a push button control on the selected form or child window.
Static Text
Places a static text control on the selected form or child window.
Tool Button
Places a tool button control on the selected form or child window.
Image Control
Places an image control on the selected form or child window.
Program Name
Displays the path and name of the file loaded in the editor window.
Status Bar
Places a Status Bar control on the selected form or child window.
Radio Button
Places a radio button on the selected form or child window.
Arrange
Arranges the icons of all minimized forms and child windows along the bottom of the edit area.
Check Box
Places a check box control on the selected form or child window.
Child Window
Creates a new child window and places it in the edit area.
Group Box
Places a group box control on the selected form or child window.
List Edit
Places a list edit control on the selected form or child window.
Tab Control
Places a tab control on the selected form or child window.
List Box
Places a list box control on the selected form or child window.
BBj Compiler Location
Path and filename of the BBjCpl compiler.
Edit Box
Places an edit control on the selected form or child window.
File
Contains the New, Open, Open As, Close, Save, Save As, Print, Print Preview, and Exit options.
Image List
Creates a new image list and places it in the edit area.
InputE
Places an InputE control on the selected form or child window.
InputN
Places an InputN control on the selected form or child window.
Cascade
Stacks all non-minimized forms and child windows so that all tile bars are visible.
Create a New Document
Creates a new resource file.
Delete
Removes the selection without placing it on the clipboard.
Menu Bar
Creates a new menu bar and places it in the edit area.
Windows
Default look and feel for the Windows operating system.
Paste
Pastes the contents of the clipboard anywhere on the form.
Grid
Places a grid control on the selected form or child window.
Grid Spacing
Displays the Grid Spacing dialog to define the grid height and width.
Main Toolbar
Consists of Create a New Document, Open, Save, Copy, Cut, and Paste.
Tile Horizontally
Displays all non-minimized forms and child windows side-by-side.
Tile Vertically
Displays all non-minimized forms and child windows vertically.
Motif
Default look and feel for the Solaris operating system.
Open As
Open a file as a BBj program or BBj resource file.
Property Sheet
Displays the parameters of the selected item in the edit area.
Metal
Default look and feel for the UNIX operating system.
Prints the selected Tree View or top level resource.
Copy
Copies the selection and places it on the clipboard.
Cut
Removes the selection and places it on the clipboard.
Form
Creates a new form and places it in the edit area.
Grid
Enables or disables the grid function in the selected form or child window.
Find New Controls
Searches for and adds third party controls.
Snap Size On
Enables or disables the snap to size function.
Options
Revert to Pointer, Tab Order and Grid Spacing options.
Revert to Pointer
Determines the use of the mouse once a single item is inserted into the edit area. If the option is checked, the mouse can edit items in the edit area. If the option is unchecked, each time the mouse is clicked in the edit area, an item identical to the first is inserted.
Tab Order
Displays the Tab Order dialog to modify the tab order or resources contained within a form or child window.
Hide Property Sheet
Minimizes the property sheet.
Ungroup Controls
Ungroups the selected controls.
View As
Contains the Metal, Motif, and Windows options.
Close
Closes the current file.
Snap On
Enables or disables the snap to grid function.
Edit
Contains the Copy, Cut, Paste, and Delete options.
Group Controls
Groups the selected controls.
Open
Opens an existing file.
Save As
Saves a file under a new name. Once the file is renamed, it becomes the current file.
Save
Saves the current file.
New
Creates a new BBj file.
Convert Label References
This represents the –l option.
Line Number Increment
Represents the –i parameter.
Reserve Verbs As Keywords
The –k parameter.
Line Start Number
Represents the –s parameter.
Set Output Protected
Setting the –p parameter option to 'true' gives the respective switch to the compiler. When set to 'false', it is not included in the command used to start the compiler.
RAM Size Allocation
The –m parameter.
Remove Comments
Setting the –r parameter option to 'true' gives the respective switch to the compiler. When set to 'false', it is not included in the command used to start the compiler.
Renumber Output Files
Setting the –n parameter option to 'true' gives the respective switch to the compiler. When set to 'false', it is not included in the command used to start the compiler.
Error Log File
This option corresponds to the –e parameter. If an error log is specified, the compiler errors will be written to a disk file instead of being displayed in the Compiler Output Window in NetBeans. In order to display compiler errors in NetBeans as hyperlinks connected to the original source, leave this option blank.
Output File Extension
The –x parameter represents the extension added to the end of tokenized files. The extension is not limited to a certain number of characters. If the extension used here has been registered as a BBj module extension, the compiled files will be assigned a special icon in the Explorer to distinguish them from all other file types. Leaving this option blank triggers the same file naming behavior discussed in Strip Output File Extension.
Output Directory
This option is the –d parameter and represents the path to the directory where the complier places the tokenized files. For best results, the output directory listed in this option should already have been created and mounted in the NetBeans Explorer. If the directory does not exist, the compiler (BBjCpl, bbx4cpl or pro5cpl) will create it and populate it with tokenized files, but the results will not be visible in the Explorer. In order to create tokenized files in the same directory as the source files, leave this option blank.